Valve Shoots Portals

In addition to showing a quick glimpse of Team Fortress 2 at EA's annual summer press event today, Valve's Gabe Newell also demonstrated an interesting addition to the Half-Life 2 arsenal.

Using a demo called "Portal," Newell showed off a special gun used to create portals similar to those used in Prey. A player could create a portal nearby, for instance, and then a second portal on the other side of a chasm; walking through the first would transport him safely out the second.

Valve wasn't clear on just where the portal gun will be used, though it looks to be part of the arsenal in Episode Two -- and certainly a good candidate for multiplayer. We'll be back with more as soon as we get more details.